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Injury to the shoulder as a result of an external force or energy.
The most common causes are a fall, an accident or a blow from a blunt object.
It presents with pain, inflammation and a haematoma in the area of trauma.
Diagnosis is made clinically, with a history and physical examination. In most cases, the diagnosis is completed with an imaging test to rule out underlying bone lesions: radiography and/or MRI.
Treatment is based on pain relief and reduction of inflammation with analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Immediately after the trauma, application of local indirect cooling can prevent haematoma growth and inflammation. In the following days, application of heat can reduce muscle pain, as can rest and immobilisation of the arm.
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- UpToDate [Internet]. Waltham. 2017. Evaluation of the patient with shoulder complaints; [citado el 21 de junio de 2017]. Disponible en: http://www.uptodate.com/contents/evaluation-of-the-patient-with-shoulder-complaints?source=search_result&search=traumatismo+hombro&selectedTitle=1~150
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